Car-coupling



(No Model.)

W. W; SBLBY.

GAR GOUPLING. No. 440,726.

Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM lV. SELEY, OF WAGO, TEXAS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,726, dated November 18, 1890.

Application tiled May 12, 1890. Serial No. 351,546. (No model.)

To all wiz/0m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. SELEY, a citizen of the United States oi' America, residing at lVaco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements and Combinations of l\Iachinery-namely, the'Lone Star Automatic Car-Coupling; and I do hereby declare 4that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make -and use the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for automatically coupling the cars to which it is attached and which can be uncoupled without requiring the brakeman to go in between the cars, and when uucoupled the coupling will stand uncouplcd till thrown back in gear.

The invention consists, essentially, of two similar or duplicate draw-heads, each having buffers, and two projecting arms, extensions, or loops rounded and beveled and adapted to work upon and between similar parts ou the opposite draw-head, each draw-head being provided also with a longitudinal slot therein, and a cavity or hollowed part to receive the extensions or loops on the opposite draw-heads, and a butter-bridge extending across the longitudinal slot of the draw-head, each of said draw-heads being hollowed out toward their backward ends and adapted to allow the ball-head of a connecting-piu to work therein, and of a gravity-key adapted to work in the longitudinal slot of the drawhead upon an adjustable transverse axis fixed in said gravity-key and working in holes in the sides of the draw-head, said gravity-key being provided with two arms or extensions with hooks or heads thereon 'adapted to slide over and upon and lock in the loops or arms of the opposite draw-head, said heads orarms having holes through them, whereby thc ordinary link-and-pin coupling can be connected therewith, said gravity-key being also provided with an extension or loop on the upper surface thereof adapted to have au uncoupling device attached thereto; also, an extension or arm adapted to check the upward motion of the gravity-key in uncoupling; also, a flange or web between the two forwardly-extending arms of the gravity-key and reaching a part of their length and adapted to give strength to said arms, and of a double carrying-iron and two spiral springs adapted to allow the draw-head a slight upward and downward motion, said spiral springs and double carrying-iron being supported by bolts extending through the dead-wood attached to the car. The upper carrying-iron resting on the spiral springs has holes through it sufcient-ly large to allow it to play upon the bolts and up and down upon the spiral springs, thus allowing the draw-head resting upon it to have an upward and downward motion,so that cars of different heights can be coupled, and a shaft with crank and chain connected to the extension or loop on the upper surface of the gravity-key and adapted to uncouple or unlock the coupling and to hold it unlocked or uucoupled any desired length of time, all as hereinafter set forth.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this speciiication, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view of the coupling coupled and fastened to the cars, with portions of the cars shown. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken along the longitudinal center of the draw-heads when coupled or locked. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal and horizontal sectional 'view of `the draw-head B of Figs. 1 and 2,

taken along its longitudinal center. Fig. 4.- is a sectional view oi the draw-head B, taken upon the line o o of Figs. 3 and S. Fig. 5 1s a side plan view of the gravity-key C of Fig.

2. Fig. (i is a sectional view of Fig. 5, taken ou the line e' Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the connecting-pin E of Fig. l. Fig. S is a top plan view of the draw-head B of Fig. l.

Referring by letter to the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, A and B designate, respectively, the similar or duplicate draw-heads, the buffers thereon being designated7 respectively, by P and O and O.

C and D designate, respectively, the gravity-keys, similar in all respects, and working in the longitudinal slots of their respective draw-heads.

E and E designate, respectively, similar IOC) connecting-pins, each fastened to the car and having a ball-head working in the backward end of their respective draw-heads.

F F and F F designate, respectively, pins or bolts extending through the dead-wood attached to the car and adapted to support the carrying-irons and springs, one of said pins or bolts being on each side of each drawhead.

G and G designate, respectively, spiral springs working` around the connecting-pins E and E and adapted to allow the drawvheads to play slightly backward and forward.

H and H each designate, respectively, one of the two spiral springs placed between the two parts of the respective carrying-irons and adapted to allow the upper carryingiron to be pressed down by the draw-head, said springs and carrying-irons thereby operating as a cushion for the draw-head to rest upon.

I and I designate,respectively, the upper or movable carrying-irons, and J and J designate, respectively, the lower or fixed carrying-irons.

K and K designate, respectively, the adj ustable transverse axes of the gravity-keys.

L and L designate, respectively, pins through the gravity-keys and their adjustable axes for holding said adjustable axes in place.

M and M designate edges of the draw- Vhead projecting inwardly beneath the upper cavity or enlargement n of the longitudinal slot c, similar edges ot the draw-head projecting inwardly beneath the lower and similar cavity or enlargement n of the lon gitudinal slot c.

N and N designate a cavity or enlargement of the longitudinal slot c to allow the loops, arms, or extensions of the opposite draw-head to work therein.

O and O designate, respectively, bulers on the sides of the draw-head B, one of the buffers on the opposite draw-head being designated by P.

Q and Q designate, respectively, the projecting rounded and beveled arms, loops, or extensions of the draw-head B, and S and S designate, respectively, the similar projecting rounded and beveled arms, loops, or extensions of the draw-head A.

T and T designate, respectively, the heads or hooks on the arms or extensions of the gravity-key D, and U and U designate similar heads or hooks on the arms or extensions of the gravity-key C, each of which heads or hooks has a hole through it for the insertion of the pin of an ordinary link-and-pin coupling, and all of them are adapted to slide over and upon and then fall of their own weight into the loops or extensions of the opposite draw-head. Each of said heads or hooks are also so made that the point of contact or the draft is upon that part of the hook or head extensions or arms of the gravity-keys C and D and adapted to strike upon the projecting edge of the corresponding draw-heads, and thereby prevent their respective gravity-keys from being raised too high in uncoupling the cars.

X and X designate, respectively, the buffer-bridges on the draw-heads B and A, said buffer-bridges being adapted to strike as a buffer against the dead-wood t and t', respectively, and thereby prevent the draw-heads being driven back under the car too far, and said butter-bridges, extending as they do across the longitudinal slots of their respective draw-heads, prevent the gravity-keys Working in said longitudinal slots being raised too high in uncoupling or unlocking the coupling.

Y designates the extension or loop on the upper surface of the gravity-key, a similar one being upon each gravity-key, and to which is connected a chain and crank on a shaft adapted to raise the gravity-key and thereby unlock or uncouple the coupling, said chain, crank, and shaft (not shown in the drawings) being so adapted and adjusted so that in raising the gravity-keys to unlock the coupling the crank passes over and beyond the vertical or highest point in the are it describes, and there rests against the end of the car, thereby holding the gravity-key up,r and consequently the coupling is held uncoupled any desired length of time or until the coupling is thrown back in gear.

Z designates the hole through one of the heads or hooks on the arms or extensions of the gravity-keys, and in which the ordinary pin of the link-and-pin coupling can be inserted, similar holes being through each of the other heads r hooks of the gravity-keys.

The letter c designates the longitudinal slot in the draw-head B, a similar slot being in the draw-head A, wherein Works the gravitykey C, hereinbefore described. Each of said longitudinalslots is enlarged toward its forward end, as indicated by n and n, to allow for the play of the head of the gravitykey ofthe opposite draw-head. They are also greatly enlarged, as indicated at N and N to receive and allow to work therein the two projecting arlns, loops, or extensions of the opposite draw-head.

The letters e and e designate,respectively, the holes in the ends of their respective drawheads wherein work the connecting-pins E and E.

The letters f and f designate portions of the draw-heads hollowed out and adapted to allow the ball-heads of the connecting-pins E IOO ITO

and E to work therein, and so as to allow the draw-heads to have a slight rotary motion thereon.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operations of my invention will be readily understood, but may be briefly stated as' follows: As the draw-heads are forced together their rounded and beveled arms, loops, or extensions are projected upon and between similar parts on the opposite draw-head, forcing upward and passing under the heads or hooks on the gravity-keys, which heads or hooks then fall of their own weight into the projecting` arms, loops, or extensions of the opposite drawheads, thereby coupling, locking, or fastening the two draw-heads together. To uncouple or unlock or unfasten the coupling, thebrakelnan standing at the side ot' or on the top of the car turns the shaft or crank and chain att-ached to the gravity-keys till said gravity-keys are raised sufiiciently high to release the loops on the opposite draw-head, thereby uncoupling, releasing, or unlocking the coupling, and if it is desired to leave the coupling uncoupled said shaft and crank are turned till the crank passes beyond the vertical orhighest point in the are which it describes and rests against the end of the car, thereby holding, by means of its connection to the gravity-keys, said gravity-keys up or out of position or gear.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In acar-coupling, the combination of duplicate draw-heads, each having a longitudinal slot therein and each provided with buffers and with two arms, loops, or extensions adapted to work upon and between their counterparts on the opposite draw-head, and with a buffer-bridge extending across the longitudinal slot therein, and a gravity-key adapted to work in the longitudinal slot in the draw-head and having two extensions or arms with hooks or heads thereon adapted to work in the loops or extensions ot' the opposite draw-head, and a carrying-iron resting upon spiral springs, and a connecting-pin with rounded or ball head adapted to work in the hollowed end oi' the draw-head, and two spiral springs adapted to support a carrying-iron, all substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupling, the combination of two similar draw-heads, each provided with buffers and two projecting rounded and beveled arms, loops, or extensions, and a buffer-bridge,

head, and with a projection or loop on the upper surface thereof adapted to be connected to an uncoupling device, and provided also with a projection at its backward end adapted to strike against the edge of the drawhead and thereby prevent the gravity-key being raised too high, and a connecting-pin with ball or rounded head adapted to work in the hollowed end of the draw-head and connecting it with the car, and a carrying-iron resting on spiral springs, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupling, the combination of two similar draw-heads, each provided with buffers and a longitudinal slot therein, and a buffer-bridge and two rounded beveled and projecting loops, and a connecting-pin with rounded or ball head, and a double carryingiron, and two spiral springs adapted to s upport the upper carrying-iron, `and a' gravltykey adapted to work in the longitudinal slot in the draw-head, substantially as described and speciiied.

4. In a car-coupling, the combination of a draw-head having a longitudinal slot therein, and buffers, and buffer-bridge across said longitudinal slot, and two extensions or loops adapted to work on and upon and between similar parts on the counter draw-head, Said draw-head being hollowed out and adapted to allow the loops of the opposite draw-head to work therein, and a connecting-pin. with round head, and a double carrying-iron, the upper one resting on spiral springs, and two spiral springs adapt-ed to support the upper carrying-iron, and a gravity-key adapted to work in the longitudinal slot in the drawhead and having two forwardly-extending arms with hooks or heads and adapted to lock in the loops of the opposite draw-head, all substantially as described.

5. In a car-coupling, the combination of the draw-heads A and B and the gravity-keys C and D, and the connecting-pins E and E', and the double carrying-irons I and J and I and J', and the spiral springs H and H and their duplicates on the opposite sides of their respective draw-heads, all substantially as described and speciiied.

6. In a car-coupling, the combination of two similar draw-heads, each having a longitudinal slot therein, and buiers and a buerbridge, and two rounded and beveled loops or extensions adapted to work between and upon similar loops or extensions by the opposite draw-head and in the hollowed end thereof, each of said draw-heads being hollowed out so as to allow the loops of the opposite draw-head to work therein, and two gravitykeys, each working in the longitudinal slots of their respective draw-heads and having two extending arms or projections with hooks or heads thereon adapted to slide over and lock in the loops of the draw-head opposite, and a projection on the upper surface of each of said gravity-keys adapted to be attached IOO IIO

connecting-pin with rounded or ball head adapted to Work in the hollowed end of the draw-head and eonneet the draw-head to the car, all substantially as described, illustrated, 15

and set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM XV. SELEY. l/Vtnesses.

B. D. OWEN, DANIEL WISE. 

